The 1954 San Francisco Chief

The San Francisco Chief began operations in June of 1954, designed to compete with City of San Francisco (UP and CNW) and the California Zephyr (Burlington, RG, and WP).  This was the last long distance new train service introduced in America, but not with new equipment.  It was a success from the beginning, running from Chicago to Richmond, CA, just outside of San Francisco.

Here at Barstow, we see the San Francisco Chief heading eastbound led by an ABA lashup of of PA locos.

 Right behind the Alcos is an ACF Baggage car, no. 3460, from Kato.

2860 is the first of four chair cars on today's streamliner.  On busy days, there might be 5-7 chair cars and coaches in this train.  2860 is Budd chair car, part of an order of 45 cars delivered in 1953.

The other three chair cars 2824, 2846 and 2839 follow 2860.  These cars seated 48 passengers comfortably. The models are from ConCor.

Following the chair cars, comes the 1566 Lunch Counter-Diner.  The prototype was manufactured by Pullman Car Company in 1950. I made this model from M&R brass sides on an American Limited chassis, with Kato wheel sets.

This is the reverse side of the LCD.  It has a very interesting window arrangement.  The kitchen is on the left side of the photo.

The Big Dome Lounge Dormitory cars were delivered in early 1954.  Because of the dormitory, the lounge was smaller than the lounge of the Big Dome cars on the El Capitan.  Thus an additional lounge car was added to the SF Chief, after the diner. This car was kit bashed from M&R sides on a Bachman chassis.

The Budd diner, no. 1474 is from Kato.

The Bar Lounge 1348 is a Pullman manufactured car from 1947.  Again, M&R sides on American limited chassis.

The Regal Arms is and American Car and Foundry manufactured 4-4-2.  These cars were manufactured for the Super Chief, but many found there way to other streamliners.  This is the first of the sleepler cars.  The model is from Kato.

Pine Leaf is a 10-6 sleeper from Budd.  I removed much of the skirting, as in reality, crews removed them for greater access to the equipment.  The model is is from Kato.

Indian Arrow is a 24 Roomette car from Pullman. I built this car from M&R sides on an American Limited chassis with Kato with Kato wheelsets.

Blue Moon is another M&R car.  This sleeper would be dropped off in Arizona with its ultimate destination being Phoenix.  There were many sleeper pick ups and drop offs along the way to and from Chicago.  I included this car FYI.

The last car in the streamliner is the Salahkai 8-2-2 sleeper.  The Salahkai was built by Pullman from a 1937 order.  Another M&R sides car.

Thanks for your interest.

A video of this train can be found on YouTube at:

       https://youtu.be/YGRK4vSUACw

1954 Santa Fe El Capitan in N Scale

 EMD F7's 40 ABCL heading through the Mojave Desert

The 1954 El Capitan streaks across the Mojave Desert in Southern California heading westbound into Los Angeles.  The following pictures will present the individual cars in the consist. The cars were arranged in a specific manner after the head end cars.  Two chair cars, a lunch counter-diner; two more chairs and the dome lounge; two more chairs, a LCD; Two more chairs, and the parlor observation car.  Additional chair cars were place after the second LCD.

Immediately following the F units we find a baggage and mail car, number 3407 and a full baggage car, number 3436.  The mail section of 3407 was used for sorting and classifying mail according to U.S. Post Office specifications.  This car was not to be confused with a Railway Post Office (RPO), which were on trains with a daily schedule, such as the Super Chief.  These are Budd built cars.  The models are Kato.

The next car in the train is baggage dormitory car 3477.  The dormitory is mainly used by the crews, but is passenger accessible as a lounge.  This car was manufactured by the Pullman company in 1947.  The model is custom made with M&R sides fitted to an American Limited chassis, Kato trucks and wheel sets.

Car 2860 is a Budd manufactured 48 seat chair car from 1953.  These cars were considered the most beautiful cars on the Santa Fe, both inside and out. They were made specifically for the El Capitan, a premier coach train.

 On the Santa Fe Railroad, chair cars differ from coaches in that chair cars have reclining seats, while coaches do not. These models were manufactured by Con-Cor and as most of my passenger cars, were painted with Alcor Polished Aluminum. (Car 2828)

Following the first two chair cars come the first Lunch Counter-Diner.  This Pullman manufactured car, No. 1507, was built in 1940, a single order car. It was a backup car for this train.  The model is custom made with M&R sides on the American Limited frame.

Two more 2816 class chair cars follow the LCD.

Big Dome Lounges 506-513 were built by Budd in 1954, especially for the El Capitan and the Kansas Cityan/Chicagoan.  The custon model is on a Bachman Chassis with M&R sides.

Two more 2816 class chair cars.

Following the first two coaches comes the second Lunch Counter-Diner.  This Pullman manufactured car, No. 1567, was built in 1950.  The model is custom made with M&R sides on the American Limited frame.

These are the final two of eight identical chair cars on the El Capitan.

This parlor observation car was built for the El Capitan in 1938.  The model is from Pecos River Brass.  I replaced the trucks with Kato Budd trucks.

Thanks for checking out my blog.

A video of this train can be seen on YouTube at:

              https://youtu.be/2-wJ-bVvbGw